Wolves fans are currently having to pinch themselves when they look at the team sheet on a Saturday afternoon.

Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are the two Portuguese internationals adding the flair, quality and industry to the Wolves engine room, much to the delight of the Molineux masses.

It wasn’t always like that though.

When Wolves secured promotion to the Premier League in 2003, the fans braced themselves for the evolution of the club into a top-flight force once again.

The big money-signings would arrive and the club would cement themselves in the division.

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One of the signings that came through the doors was Portuguese midfielder Silas - real name Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes.

Things didn’t go right for Wolves, and they definitely didn’t go right for Silas.

Who?

Prior to joining Wolves, Silas played for Sporting Lisbon as well as in Spain with Ceuta and Elche before being picked up by Wanderers from provincial Portuguese outfit Uniao Leiria.

He made his name here under the management of a young boss called Jose Mourinho, it was during this period that he was noticed by the national team and won the first of his three caps for his country.

Able to operate on both flanks and as a central midfielder, Silas was tipped to be one of his country’s next big stars.

This pricked the interest of Wolves. In short, it was the kind of exciting pedigree they needed and it sent out the right signals.

What Wolves said when he signed

When Wolves captured Silas in 2003, Dave Jones was a delighted man.

The 26-year-old midfield maestro turned his back on Champions League contenders Porto plus UEFA Cup hopefuls Uniao Leiria and Sporting Lisbon in favour of a four-year-deal at Molineux.

"He didn't want to stay in Portugal because it is a weak league,' his agent Vitor Duarte said.

"There are only three clubs that really compete. He wanted to show his football skills outside the country and be tested every week.

"He could've played European football with three teams, but he prefered to come here because he likes the style of football."

Silas' arrival brought to an end a two-year pursuit by Wolves boss Jones, who believes that the club have lured a star in the making.

The Molineux boss talked the international midfielder into a long contract and described the £1m deal as a snip.

Billed as a goalscoring midfielder who could play on either flank or through the centre, the fans were excited, and so was Jones.

Jones said: "We've picked up an absolute bargain because if he fulfils his potential he'll be fantastic.''

Silas revealed that he turned down interest in his homeland in a bid to further his fledgling international career.

The attacking midfielder spoke of having a fight on his hands if he was to cement his place in Portugal's Euro 2004 squad with Real Madrid's Luis Figo and AC Milan's Rui Costa ahead of him in the pecking order.

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But Silas, who was the club's third international recruit this week, was confident that moving to the Premiership would increase his chances of making the cut.

"There are more than 30 players vying for a place in the squad for Euro 2004,' said the three-times capped player.

"All of them have a good chance to make that squad. But coming to England and playing in the Premiership should help me."

What happened next?

It went wrong. Plain and simple.

He failed to ignite and played just nine games for the club.

Many things were blamed, the culture, the language and the playing style, it was one of those foreign transfers that just didn’t work out.

Silas spent the 04/05 season on loan back in Portugal, playing for Madeira-based CS Maritimo. The midfielder played seventeen times for the Green-and-Reds as they finished a respectable seventh in the Primeira Liga.

He never gave up wishing for a Molineux return, especially when Glenn Hoddle replaced Dave Jones as manager. During his time at Maritimo, his agent spoke about his hopes for a Wolves return.

The Portuguese club had an option to buy the midfielder for pounds £3m but were always unlikely to shell out that much, despite the fact that Silas was back in form after a lengthy spell out injured.

Silas, though was happy to be back playing, and was eager to return to Molineux in the summer and stake his claim despite the uncertainty over who would be in charge.

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“That is not that important at the moment but will be at the end of the season.”

Despite the change of manager at Molineux, Silas was again loaned out for the 05/06 season to a Portuguese club - this time Os Belenenses. The midfielder made twenty-eight appearances for the Azuis do Restelo scoring four times but it took the relegation of Gil Vicente via the courts to save Belenenses from falling out of the division.

The midfielder made his move to Belenenses permanent and made another eighty-six appearances in the Primeira Liga for the side, helping them to a very respectable 5th place in 2006/07 and eighth in 2007/8.

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However, it took another club (this time Estrela de Amadora) going bust in 2008/09 to prevent Belenenses from being relegated and at the end of the season Silas moved back to his former club Unaio de Leiria.

Silas spent another two years at Leiria, making forty-one appearances before moving abroad again in 2011 to play for Cypriot club AEL Limassol.

The midfielder made forty-three appearances for AEL, and won his first honours as a player as the Limassol side clinched the Cypriot championship.

Silas didn’t stay at Limassol however and went on to continue playing for AEP, Ethnikos Achna, Atletico, North East United in India and then back to his homeland to end his career at Cova da Piedade.

In a Roy Of The Rovers style end to his career he helped them to the third division title and a first promotion to the professional ranks by scoring the winning penalty in the final shootout.

He retired from playing at the end of this 2016/2017 season at the age of 40.

What now?

In January 2018 he was appointed as coach of Belenenses, they are currently mid-table in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Speaking about his style as a coach, he explained: “We always play to attack. Sometimes we have to defend, because FC Porto will force us to do so, but we will try to attack. During the week, work was always more organized, and this week was no different. If we do not play like that, we have no chance against FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting, "Silas told a news conference.

"I do not want draws. The draw leaves the feeling that we've been there 90 minutes for nothing. I prefer to draw than to lose, of course, but if I can, I want to win, "he said.

On reflection

In a recent interview with O Jogo, Silas spoke at length about his time at the club.

He confessed: "I was wrong to have learned about Wolverhampton’s history but not about the game model. Later, with the tools I acquired, I could have adapted, but not 13/14 years ago. I barely touched the ball: the game was straightforward, very much looking for second balls, and I did not have a coach to help me. Renato Sanches himself will feel it at Swansea, as will Adrien at Leicester. Sportingly, it was not a good experience and I still regret that I didn’t enjoy that stage of my career.

“In the last game that Wolves had at home, when I was there, we had already been relegated and lost 2-0 to Hélder Postiga’s Tottenham. In the end, we were in the dressing room and the coach said that we could not undress; it was necessary to return to the pitch. I thought we were going to stretch or something, but Molineux was still full, with the fans clapping. It was an incredible thing. I had already decided to leave, but then I had an idea of what I was going to miss.

“There is respect for the player and the fan, as well as great working conditions. The supporters are of Wolverhampton and no other club. I felt it when we played against Manchester United, Liverpool and other big clubs.”